Power train for horizontal earth boring machine

ABSTRACT

A portable earth boring machine adapted for horizontal boring of shafts for the insertion of pipelines in installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable. The machine is characterized by a novel rugged thrust plate and boring assembly located in the power train of the apparatus between the boring auger and the frame of the machine so as to isolate the gear reduction unit from excessive axial thrust force encountered in boring operations. The machine is further characterized by a novel power train that adapts the novel power train whereby the earth boring auger can be driven at infinitely variable speeds. In addition, the machine is provided with a detachably mounted engine frame portion that permits the transmission of power between the engine and the boring auger apparatus not only when the engine frame portion is mounted on said main frame portion at the boring location but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means and boring auger apparatus.

[ Mar. 11, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Richmond et al.

[5 POWER TRAIN FOR HORlZONTAL EARTH 3,682,261 8/1972 175/171 x BORING MACHINE Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser [75] Inventors wai g r x i g h Assistant Examinew-William F. Pate, Ill

863:: pp eman s M Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Palmer Fultz, Esq.

ABSTRACT A portable earth boring machine adapted for horizon- [73] Assignee: The Richmond Manufacturing Company, Ashland, Ohio Mar. 1, 1973 tal boring of shafts for the insertion of pipelines in in- [22 Filed:

stallations where excavation from the surface is unde- Appl. No.: 337,211

sirable. The machine is characterized by a novel rugged thrust plate and boring assembly located in the Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 153,281, June 15, 1971,

power train of the apparatus between the boring auger ,anda

and the frame of the machine so as to isolate the gear Oct. 30,

continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 85 1970, Pat. No. 3,769,006.

reduction unit from excessive axial thrust force encountered in boring operations. The machine is further characterized by a novel power train that adapts the novel power train whereby the earth boring auger can be driven at infinitely variable speeds. In addition,

the machine is provided with a detachably mounted engine frame portion that permits the transmission of power between the engine and the boring auger appa- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ratus not only when the engine frame portion 1s. mounted on said main frame portion at the boring location but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means and boring auger apparatus.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ow uwfl ot. 6 TRDYD 9468 56667 99999 HHHHH 22 9 MENTEB MRI 1 LQFS SHEET 2 OF 7 FLL'JENTED NARI 1 I975 SHEET '4 [1F 7 POWER TRAIN FOR HORIZONTAL EARTH BORING MACHINE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of our co-pending application Ser. No. 153,281 filed June 15, 1971 which is a continuation-in-part of the application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 85,600 filed Oct. 30, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,769,006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to portable earth boring machines and more particularly to a machine adapted for horizontal boring of shafts for the insertion of pipelines at installations where excavation from the surface is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the machine of the present invention comprises a base means that includes spaced track members which are disposed in a trench adjacent the hill to be bored. The machine further includes a carriage means mounted for movement along the track means and such carriage supports a power train for rotating connected sections of auger shafts and an earth boring auger. The carriage further supports a pusher ring for driving sections of casings into the bored hole.

The present earth boring machine is of the same general type disclosed in the co-pending application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 867,816 filed Oct. 20, 1969, and in accordance with the present invention includes an improved power train for driving the sectional augers.

With machines of this general type, a problem has been encountered where the ground conditions make horizontal boring difficult. For example, in the New England states where the earth includes a high content of hard rock,'the axial thrust on the power train caused by augers encountering rock has imposed axial thrust of high magnitude on the auger shaft and hence upon the gear reduction units located between the engine and the auger sections. Such high axial stresses have on occasion caused failure of such gear reduction units with resulting delay and an expense in replacing same.

In accordance with the present invention the above mentioned problem has been solved by providing, along the power train, a novel rugged thrust plate assembly and thrust bearing arranged to transmit the axial thrust from the auger directly to the carriage frameas it is advanced along the truck means thereby isolating the gear reduction unit from excessive damaging axial thrust forces.

As another aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned thrust plate is also utilized to provide a rugged mount for the above mentioned casing pusher ring whereby the thrust encountered in pushing casings into the bored hole is more efficiently transmitted to the carriage frame.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the earth boring machine is provided with a novel power train that comprises variable volume fluid translating means driven by the engine and in driving relationship with the auger connecting shaft means whereby the boring auger can be driven at infinitely variable speeds.

As still another aspect of the present invention the present earth boring machine is provided with a main frame portion that supports said auger connecting shaft means, a detachably mounted engine frame portion, and a variable volume fluid translating means adapted for transmitting fluid power between the engine and the boring uger apparatus not only when the engine frame portion is mounted on said main frame portion at the boring location, but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means and boring auger apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved earth boring machine of the type described wherein the power train includes a novel thrust plate and bearing assembly adapted to isolate elements of the power train from high axial thrust forces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine of the type described wherein the thrust plate assembly is utilized to more efficiently transmit axial thrust from a casing pusher ring to the carriage means on which it is mounted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine of the type described that includes a novel power train that is adapted to drive the earth boring auger at infinitely variable speeds.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an earth boring machine of the type described that is uniquely adapted for transmitting power between the engine and the boring auger apparatus not only when the engine frame portion is mounted on said main frame portion at the boring location, but also when said engine frame portion is detached and positioned at a location remote from the main frame means and boring auger apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an earth boring machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the earth boring machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the thrust plate and bearing assembly comprising a portion of the machine of the preceding figures, the section being taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view partially in section of a portion of the thrust plate and bearing assembly of FIG. 3, the section being taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified earth boring machine shown in FIG. 6, with said view showing the engine and associated apparatus mounted at a location remote from the boring apparatus and casing pusher ring;

FIG. 6 is a partially broken side elevational view of the boring machine of FIG. 6;

FIG 7 is a partially broken side elevational view showing another modified boring machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of an auger connecting shaft and associated thrust bearing comprising a portion of the boring machine of FIG. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the complete horizontal earth boring machine of the present invention which comprises a base means indicated generally at 20. Such base means includes spaced longitudinally extending track means which support a carriage means indicated generally at 24.

The machine further includes an upper carriage frame portion 26 which is removably mounted on a lower carriage frame portion 28. Lower carriage frame portion 28 is provided with wheels 30 which roll along the tracks 22 and the upper carriage portion 26 can be removed from lower carriage portion 28 by opening clamp and guide key assemblies 32. Such assemblies are disclosed and described in detail in the co-pending application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 867,816 filed Oct. 20, 1969.

The carriage means 24 is advanced and retracted along track 22 by a hydraulic power cylinder, a portion of which is seen at 34 in FIG. 1. With such power cylinder being operatively connected between a power cylinder base 36 and the carriage means 24.

Details of the power cylinder 34 and power cylinder base 36 are disclosed and described in detail in the copending application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 867,816, filed Oct. 20, 1969.

It will further be seen that pressurized fluid for actuating power cylinder 34 is provided by a fluid power system including a pump 38 driven by an engine 40. The fluid power circuit further includes a control valve mechanism 42 and conduits 44 and 46 such that when control valve mechanism 42 is actuated the pushing cylinder 34 is extended or retracted so as to move carriage 24 forwardly or rearwardly along the track means.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the boring machine further includes a pusher ring 50 including a front annular surface 52 for engaging the sections of pipe casing for pushing such sections into the bored hole. Such pusher ring 50 includes the transverse pusher ring plate 60 and 92 which are backed up by a thrust plate 51 mounted on the carriage means with such thrust plate 51 serving as a mount for a thrust bearing assembly indicated at 72. The mechanism comprising the thrust plate 51, the thrust bearing assembly 72 mounted thereon, and the back up plates 90 which transmit the thrust from the suger connecting shaft 64 to the carriage means 24 and thereby isolate gear reduction unit 54-from the thrust.

It should further be mentioned, with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, that a slip clutch assembly 62 is Provided between gear reduction unit 54 and the auger connecting shaft 64 such that in the event an overloaded condition occurs, then slip clutch 64 will permit the power train to function with the auger means on shaft 64 in a stalled condition without overloading and damaging the elements of the power train.

Reference is next made to FIG. 4 which illustrates in detail the above mentioned thrust transmitting assembly which includes the thrust plate 51 and the thrust bearing assembly mounted thereon and indicated generally at 72.

This assembly includes a base means bolted to thrust plate 51 by a plurality of bolts 86. A rotary shaft base 82 is welded to the rear end of auger connecting shaft 64 at a weld 84 with a conventional slip clutch assembly indicated generally at 62 being interposed between rotary shaft base 82 and auger connecting shaft 64.

A plurality of roller bearings 80 are mounted between roller bearings 74 which are pressed into a recess in the thrust bearing base, FIG. 4, such that rotary shaft base 82 is free to be driven by an output shaft 78 of gear reduction unit 54 with such shaft 78 being keyed by its hexagonal shape within the bore 76 of rotary shaft base 82.

It should be mentioned that the rearwardly extending annular flange of rotary shaft base 82 is extended freely through the hole in thrust plate 72.

Referring next to FIG. 3, the previously mentioned thrust plate 51 is rigidly mounted on upper carriage portion 26 of carriage means 24 by the generally triangular gusset plates 90. The forward ends of such gusset plates are welded to thrust plate 51 and the base edges of such gusset plates are welded to the top surface of the upper carriage portion.

It will now be understood that with thrust bearing assembly 62 being mounted on thrust plate 51 the entire thrust reaction from an auger connecting shaft 64 being transmitted to the base 20 via thrust bearing base means, thrust plate 51, gusset plates 90, upper carriage portion 26, carriage means 24, and energized carriage driving cylinder 34, the latter being connected to base means 20 by power cylinder base 36.

It should be mentioned that auger connecting shaft 64 is preferably provided with a hexagonal socket 66 for receiving the hexagonal end of the rearmost auger section.

A typical auger construction for connection with the machine of the present invention is disclosed and described in detail in the co-pending application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 85,614 filed Oct. 30, 1970.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate a modified boring machine constructed in accordance with the present invention which includes as in the previous embodiment, a base means that forms spaced track means 22. Here again a carriage or main frame means indicated generally at 24-A is mounted for travel on the spaced track members 22 of the base means 20 and said carriage 24-A is provided with pushing cylinders 34 which have their bases connected with a progressively advanceable pusher base 36. The details of said pusher base are disclosed and described in detail in the co-pending application of Albert R. Richmond, Ser. No. 867,815, filed Oct. 20, 1969.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, an engine driven hydraulic pump 38 for the pushing cylinders 34 is connected to said cylinders either by short hydraulic lines 35 and 37 or by remote hydraulic lines 35-A and 37-A.

It should be mentioned that when the boring machine embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 and the boring machine embodiment of FIG. 7 are mounted on carriage or frame means 24-A with auxiliary frame means 122 in its mounted position a short pressurized line 35 leading from the pump to pushing cylinders 34 is used and return line 37 (not illustrated) is connected to reservoir 112.

When, however, auxiliary engine frame 122 is positioned in a remote location, at a grade level outside the ditch, auxiliary lines 35-A, pressurized from the pump 38, pushing cylinders 34 and auxiliary return line 37-A are installed such that the power for the pushing cylinders 34, which advance carriage 24-A, can function from a remote location.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, auxiliary frame means 122 can be removed from the carriage or main frame means 24-A by means of a detachable clamp means 32 and thereby remove said frame means from the boring location configuration of FIG. 6 to the remote configuration of FIG. 5.

When such remote boring operation is being effected, it will be noted from FIG. 5 that the boring and pushing apparatus including the auger 123 and pusher ring 50 are disposed adjacent to the hole 120 being bored into which the casing sections 121 are being successively pushed by the pusher ring assembly indicated generally at 50.

With continued reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, this modified earth boring machine comprises a fixed displacement fluid motor 102 which is connected to the output of a variable displacement pump 100 via line 103 and fluid motor 102 is drained back to tank or reservoir 112 by return conduit 105.

It should be mentioned that a typical example of a variable displacement pump 100 is disclosed and described in detail in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,847 issued May 18, 1965.

In this embodiment, and in view of the fluid power connection between variable pump 100 and fixed fluid motor 102. the previously described slip clutch indicated generally at 62 in FIG. 4 can be eliminated since, in the event that unyielding obstructions are encountered in boring, the variable fluid drive of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 can prevent overload by bypassing hydraulic fluid via a pressure relief valve means.

It should be mentioned that a typical example of fluid motors 102 and 105 is described in detail in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,575 issued Apr. 19, 1966.

It should be further mentioned that in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the relatively large fixed displacement motor 102 is used, a modified thrust bearing is incorporated between auger connecting shaft 64 and thrust plate 51 wherein an axially disposed radial bearing comprising the bearing plates 74 and rollers 80 is disposed between a front flange 82 and a rear bearing flange directly attached to thrust plate 51.

In FIG. 8 it will be noted that the same male connector shaft 78 is utilized between fluid motor 102 and the driven flange 82 of the thrust bearing assembly of FIG. 8.

With continued reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the previously described pusher ring assembly 50 and pusher ring or thrust plate 51 are utilized with said plate 51 being braced by the gussets 90, FIG. I, with such gussets being shown removed in FIG. 6 so as to more clearly illustrate the components of the hydrostatic drive.

It should be mentioned that these gussets are shown in position in FIG. 5 so as to provide axial bracing between pusher ring plate 51 and carriage 24-A such that the axial thrust imposed on the power train and pusher ring during boring of the hole and pushing of the casing is most efficiently transmitted to the carriage means 24-A.

Referring again to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the machine is provided with a control valve means indicated generally at 42 that includes levers for pressurizing and draining the fluid delivery for the pump 38 that drives the pushing cylinders 34.

It should also be noted from FIG. 6 that the machine is provided with a control lever 104 for varying the volumetric displacement from variable displacement pump 100 such that the rotational speed of fluid motor 102 can be infinitely varied within the limits ofa preselected fixed range of operation.

Reference is next made to FIG. 7 which illustrates still another modified boring machine which is similar to the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the gear reducer 54 of FIG. 1 is incorporated on the assembly of auger connecting shaft 64 and pusher ring 50 which here again are removably mounted by the attaching means 32. If desired, front slip clutch 62 can be used as in the embodiment of FIGS. l-4.

With further reference to FIG. 7, since the gear reduction unit 54 of FIG. 1 is used, a relatively small fixed displacement motor 105 can be substituted for the relatively large fluid motor 102 of FIGS. 5 and 6.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, fixed displacement motor 105 is connected to the same pressurized line 107 connected to the outlet of variable displacement pump and to the same return line leading from fluid motor 105 back to reservoir 112.

It should also be mentioned that with the embodiment of FIG. 7 the pressurized line 103 from variable pump 100 to motor 105 and return lines 105 from said motor to reservoir 112 can be replaced by the relatively long lines 103-A and 105-A of FIG. 5 such that the embodiment of FIG. 7 can selectively be used for operations where auxiliary frame 122 is disposed at a location remote from the boring and pushing apparatus as previously described.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means, carriage means mounted for movement along said track means and including an upper carriage frame portion removably mounted on said carriage means for operational use in either a carriage mounted or a remote location; an engine mounted on said upper carriage frame portion; variable volume pump means mounted on said upper carriage frame portion and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said carriage means; flexible conduit means for connecting said fluid motor to said pump means in either of said locations; auger connecting shaft means including a front end for connection with an earth boring auger and a rear end driven by said fluid motor; and a casing pusher ring at the forward end of said carriage means in surrounding relationship with said auger connecting shaft means.

2. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means; main frame means mounted for movement along said track means; auxiliary frame means for disposition in a location remote from said main frame means; an engine mounted on said auxiliary frame means; variable volume pump means mounted on said auxiliary frame means and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said main frame means; flexible conduit means for connecting said fluid motor means in circuit with said pump means; a thrust plate forwardly of said fluid motor means; thrust bearing means mounted on said thrust plate; auger connecting shaft means including a front end for connection with an earth boring auger and a rear end including a bearing engaging shoulder abutting said thrust bearing means and driven by said fluid motor; and a casing pusher ring mounted on said frame means in surrounding relationship with said auger connecting shaft means.

3. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means; main frame means mounted for movement along said track means; auxiliary frame means for disposition in a location remote from said main frame means; an engine mounted on said auxiliary frame means; variable volume pump means mounted on said auxiliary frame means and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said main frame means and connected in circuit with said pump means; a gear reduction unit mounted on said main frame means and including a gear reduction input shaft driven by said fluid motor and a gear reduction output shaft; a thrust plate forwardly of said gear reduction unit and including a radially disposed thrust absorbing surface;

faces. 

1. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means, carriage means mounted for movement along said track means and including an upper carriage frame portion removably mounted on said carriage means for operational use in either a carriage mounted or a remote location; an engine mounted on said upper carriage frame portion; variable volume pump means mounted on said upper carriage frame portion and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said carriage means; flexible conduit means for connecting said fluid motor to said pump means in either of said locations; auger connecting shaft means including a front end for connection with an earth boring auger and a rear end driven by said fluid motor; and a casing pusher ring at the forward end of said carriage means in surrounding relationship with said auger connecting shaft means.
 1. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means, carriage means mounted for movement along said track means and including an upper carriage frame portion removably mounted on said carriage means for operational use in either a carriage mounted or a remote location; an engine mounted on said upper carriage frame portion; variable volume pump means mounted on said upper carriage frame portion and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said carriage means; flexible conduit means for connecting said fluid motor to said pump means in either of said locations; auger connecting shaft means including a front end for connection with an earth boring auger and a rear end driven by said fluid motor; and a casing pusher ring at the forward end of said carriage means in surrounding relationship with said auger connecting shaft means.
 2. A portable earth boring machine comprising, in combination, track means; main frame means mounted for movement along said track means; auxiliary frame means for disposition in a location remote from said main frame means; an engine mounted on said auxiliary frame means; variable volume pump means mounted on said auxiliary frame means and driven by said engine; fluid motor means mounted on said main frame means; flexible conduit means for connecting said fluid motor means in circuit with said pump means; a thrust plate forwardly of said fluid motor means; thrust bearing means mounted on said thrust plate; auger connecting shaft means including a front end for connection with an earth boring auger and a rear end including a bearing engaging shoulder abutting said thrust bearing means and driven by said fluid motor; and a casing pusher ring mounted on said frame means in surrounding relationship with said auger connecting shaft means. 